send for coffee, while you smoke and listen
to the tales which you delight in. Drink not your coffee, for there
shall be death in it. Be all smiles and good-humour, and leave me to
manage the rest."

The pacha smoothed his brow and returned to the divan. Business
proceeded as usual, and at length the audience was closed. The pacha
appeared to be in high good-humour, and so was the vizier.

"Surely," said Mustapha, when the pipes were brought, "his imperial
highness, the sultan will have sent you some mark of his distinguished
favour."

"God is great, and the sultan is wise," replied the pacha. "I have been
thinking so too, Mustapha. Who knows but that he may add to the
territory under my sway by another pachalik?"

"I dreamt as much," replied Mustapha, "and I am anxious that the
renegade should come on shore; but it is now dark, and he will not leave
his vessel."

"We must drive away the mists of suspense by the sunbeams of hope,"
replied the pacha. "What am I but the sultan's slave? Shall we not
indulge this evening in the water of the Giaour?"

"What saith Hafiz? It is for wine to exalt men, and raise them beyond
uncertainty and doubt. It overfloweth us with courage, and imparts
visions of bliss."

"Wallah Thaib, it is well said, Mustapha," said the pacha, taking a cup
of coffee, presented by the Greek slave. Mustapha also received his cup.
"My heart is light this evening," said the pacha, laying down his pipe,
"let us drink deep of the forbidden juice. Where is it, Mustapha?"

"It is here," replied the vizier, drinking off his coffee; while the
pacha watched him from the corner of his small grey eye. And Mustapha
produced the spirits, which were behind the low ottoman upon which he
was seated.

The pacha put aside his coffee, and drank a large draught. "God is
great; drink, Mustapha," said he, handing him the bottle.

Mustapha followed the example of the pacha. "May it please your
highness," said Mustapha, "I have without a man, who they say hath
stories to recount more delightful than those of Menouni. Hearing that
he passed through this city, I have detained him, that he might afford
amusement to your highness, whose slave I am. Is it your pleasure that
he be admitted?"

"Let it be so," replied the pacha.

Mustapha gave the sign, and to the surprise of the pacha, in came the
renegade, commander of the fleet, accompanied by guards and the
well-known officer of the caliph, the _Capidji Bachi_, who hel